“Red Race” to Open 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Fest; 170 Films Join Line up

"Red Race" to Open 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Fest; 170 Films Join Line up

“The Red Race” by Chao Gan (China/Germany, ’08) will open the 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, taking place March 13 – 22. “Race” recounts the stories of several Chinese children-gymnasts who (are forced to) dream of becoming famous athletes. The 6-year-olds at the Lu Wan District Youth Athletic School in Shanghai, trained relentlessly in the hopes they will one day be gold medalists, provide the subjects for a sometimes harsh, yet intimate portrait.

Approximately 170 films by directors from around the world will screen at the event in Northern Greece. Among the docs that have received international recognition on the festival circuit this year are Kim Longinotto’s “Rough Aunties,” Matt Turnauer’s “Valentino: The Last Emperor,” Kimberly Reed’s “Prodigal Sons,” Joe Berlinger’s “Crude,” Anders Hosbro Ostergaardand’s “Burma VJ” and Kief Davidson’s “Kassim the Dream.” In addition to Thessaloniki’s line up, the festival is planning a Spotlight on Mexico section this year with seven films screening from the Latin American country, while seven are slated for a Spotlight on Austria and 10 for a special “Tribute: Africa” section. Canadian doc filmmaker Peter Wintonick will also be feted with a spotlight, screening two of his films, “Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media” (co-directed with Mark Achbar, 1992) and “Pilgrimage” (co-directed with Mira Burt Wintonick, 2008).